Timer and timer positioning means



y 8, 1962 J. M. THORNBERY ETAL 3,033,999

TIMER AND TIMER POSITIONING MEANS Filed March 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO JAMES W-THORNBERY BY DALE. F.W\\ cox ATTORNEY 3 n IIIII FHJ II y 8, 1962 J. M. THORNBERY ETAL 3,033,999

TIMER AND TIMER POSITIONING MEANS Filed March 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mm -m mwvvu JNVENTORS JAMES W. THQRNBERY- DALE F. W\u cox b/iww ATTORNEY May 8, 1962 J. M. THORNBERY ETAL 3,033,999

TIMER AND TIMER POSITIONING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 16, 1959 IN VEN TORS JAMES W. Tuoausaav F. W|u.cox BY DALE W ATTORNEY I y 1962 J. M. THORNBERY ETAL 3,033,999

TIMER AND TIMER POSITIONING MEANS Filed March 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 III i l R ll gi l u f; o ||l v, a, I I o 5 A u- 'T| 6 ml hl l 2 I I U I l l l I (I) :3 r I 2 g N I I I LL l a: l (D I a 3 dcb I Q: l Z l W l J E I E m 52 Tm 5 5 q- 2 m 5 a I J r INVENTORS JAMES M. THORNBERY DALI F1 \AhLLcox ATTOR N E\( 3,033,999 Tilt HER AND TIMER PUSHIUNWG MEANS James M. Thornbery, Morton Grove, and Dale F. Willcox, Aurora, lll., assignors to Controls Company of America, Schiller Park, ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 799,781 21 Claims. (Cl. 307-1414) This invention relates to sequential timers and particularly to the rapid and accurate positioning of the timer at a desired starting point. While the following description is directed primarily to such a timer as used in the appliance industry, the use of the invention is not limited to this field.

Sequence timers of this type are generally of a rotary nature and aiford program possibilities within 360 of rotation. For various reasons, the timers are usually driven through a stepping mechanism wherein the rotating parts steps a predetermined number of degrees at predetermined intervals. The usual practice provides for 50 or 60 intervals in the 360 of rotation available. The present invention, however, is not limited to any particular number of intervals nor, in fact, is it limited to a stepping type timer. As will appear more fully hereinafter, the fundamental concepts are applicable to continuous or creep timers as well as a stepping timer. Similarly, the fundamental concept would be applicable to the so-called linear timer. Now then, in the linear or peripheral distance of the timer, it is necessary to provide the desired sequences. A provision of the desired sequences for appliances has, in the past, been rather simple but as the appliance industry progresses and learns more about the various conditions conducive to superior results or requires programs for combination washers and dryers it has become necessary to provide for more and more programs within the limited space available. In the old practice, the programs could be well separated within the space and it was a simple matter for the user of the appliance to select the desired sequence. Now, however, the programs must be closely spaced and, in fact, very often afford no more than one interval (6 or 7.2) between programs. This being the case, it .becomes a much greater problem to insure the proper positioning or" the timer at the correct starting point for the desired program. This positioning can be accomplished manually either with mechanical or electro-mechanical aids or can be eifectcd automatically as in the present case.

The principal object of this invention is to provide for automatic rapid positioning of a sequence timer at a desired starting point.

We provide a timer having and another motor for rotating the timer a igh speed to the desired starting point. During the high speed drive of the timer to the proper starting point, the circuits controlled by the timer would normally tend to make and break in the rapid sequence.

t is another object of this invention to prevent the operation of the circui s controlled by the timer during rapid advance of the timer. In carrying out this object, we provide for complete de-energization of the timer and the circuits controlled thereby during the positioning of the timer.

As an aid to locating the proper starting point, provision is made for a seeking circuit including a printed circuit. The seeking circuit must be tested periodically to determine if the proper starting point has been reached and this normally contemplates switching on the circuit board. Under some circumstances it is desirable to avoid switching on the board. Another object of this invention, therefore, is to avoid switching on the printed circuit board and to accomplish this end, a separate switch,

the usual drive motor Fatented May 8, 1952 2 distinct from the board, is provided and so connected that it will not open until the timer has reached a position which is desired to be tested. In this way, all switching on the circuit board is avoided. This switch can be elimi nated in many cases including the present situation but has been shown as an optional feature.

During the high speed driving of the timer to the desired starting point, there will, of course, be high speed rotating masses in the systems and upon the seeking circuit indicating the desired position has been reached, these masses would tend to continue the rotation of the timer and this could result in the timer going past the desired starting point. Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a high speed drive for positioning the timer and in which the rotating mass is rapidly removed from the system upon reaching the desired point so that the inertia of the mass cannot result in overstepping the starting point.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top View with parts broken away showing the general arrangement of the timer;

FIGURE 2 is a back View of FiGUiE 1 showing the timer slow speed stepping mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the timer of FIGURE 1 and shows the high speed drive mechanism;

FiGURE 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIGURE 1;

FiGURE 5 shows the shaded pole motor in its de-energized position where it is disengaged from the stepping mechanism;

FIGURE 6 shows the shaded pole motor energized and engaged with the drive for the high speed stepping of the timer;

FIGURE 7 is a more detailed view of the interval timer cam bank, the precise details of which are not of import ance here;

FIGURE 8 shows a spray switch and is a section taken on line S-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a further detail of the interval timer cam bank and the switches operated thereby;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the system employed here in the seeking circuit for proper positioning of the timer;

FIGURE 11 is a wiring diagram from a representative circuit adding to the system of FIGURE 10 certain of other features and more in accordance with the type of printed circuit utilized in the embodiment illustrated; and

FIGURE 12 is a showing of a sample control panel utilizing rocker type switches and forming a companion to the circuit of FIGURE 11.

Referring to the drawings now in detail, the timer includes the basic interval timer wherein the motor It) drives cam 12 in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 2) to act on follower 14 to rock link 16 in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 18 and against the bias of spring 29. This type of action is well known in the art and serves to gradually build up energy in the spring 20 without requiring a high torque motor. When the follower reaches the cam drop portion 22, the stored energy in spring 20 is released rapidly and the link 16 rapidly rotates in a clockwise direction. During the counterclockwise rocking of the link, the feed pawl 24 is moved back one tooth on ratchet 26 while being retained in engagement with the periphery of the ratchet by means of pawl biasing spring 28. Now then, when the energy is released rapidly the feel paw'ls serves to index the ratchet forward one step. Any tendency of the ratchet to follow the pawl in its withdrawing or backstepping seasons action is prevented by the spring loaded anti-back up pawl so acting on the ratchet. In this manner, during energization of the timer motor 10 the timer arbor 32 pivotally mounted between the frame members 34, so is rotated in a step-by-step manner. This type of operation is common in the timer art, although the various feed mechanisms can vary according to manufacturer.

It will be noted (FIGURE 8) that the cam 12 is provided with small face cams 38 which serve to operate the spray switch 4-0 in the usual manner. Further details or descriptions in this direction is not considered essential since spray switches are old in the art.

The timer arbor is provided with a plurality of cam discs 42 which actuate the various switches 44 carried by the terminal boards 46 on the opposite sides of the arbor. These cams serve to control the sequencing of the various appliance functions. As noted above, the desire here is to provide a multiplicity of programs within the rotational limit of the arbor and, hence, it is necessary to space the various programs closely and this, in turn, results in the user having to position the arbor within, say 6 out of 360 and this is rather accurate positioning. The purpose of this invention is to automatically position the arbor in the right position for the start of the desired cycle. It is obvious that the user would not wish to wait while the timer rotated at its normal speed to arrive at the desired starting point and, for the purpose of moving the timer to the desired starting point rapidly, a separate drive is provided.

This drive is powered by the shaded pole motor 48, the rotor so of which is axially movable as well as being rotatable in the usual fashion. This axial motion (or solenoid action) is utilized for operating switch 52 and for engaging the rotor to the high speed drive mechanism. When the coil of the shaded pole motor is energized, the rotor E3 will be moved vertically (FIGURES 5 to 6) and with this action, the rotor shaft will rock lever 54 to permit the switch plunger 56 to move outwardly and actuate the holding switch for purposes which will be more clear hereinafter. At the same time, the other end of the rotor shaft moves up so that the spring 58 carried thereby and coiled about the shaft with one end projecting axially towards the rotor will engage with the cut-out portion in pinion do which, in turn, drives gears 62, 6 3 with the latter driving gear 66. Gear 66 is provided with a cam 68 which will operate searching switch SS (through follower 70) on each revolution of gear 66. The gear 66 is also provided with a drive pin 72 engag ing slot 74 in link 76. The link is biased towards the right by spring 78 and is guided by pin 80 about which it can also rotate with the pin projecting through the link slot $2. The right end of the link is adapted to engage ratchet 84 carried on the end of the other opposite the normal feed ratchet 26. On each revolution of the gear 66 the pin will withdraw the link from ratchet 84 against the bias of spring '78. As the motion continues, the link will be rocked about pivot 80 to start the link back towards the ratchet $4 so as to pick up the next tooth. After the link has picked up the next tooth, the continued motion will cause the link to rock about pivot 86 in a counter-clockwise direction and advance the ratchet 34 one step whereupon the pin starts withdrawing the link again for the next feed operation. The cam 68 is so positioned that after the link has been well withdrawn from the ratchet 84, the searching switch SS will be opened as in FIGURE 4. The purpose of the searching switch will be explained more fully hereinafter.

At this point suffice it to say that if the searching switch, when open, indicates in cooperation with the printed seeking circuit, to be described hereinfater, that the correct position has been reached, the shaded pole motor will be tie-energized and at this time the high speed feed mechanism is totally disengaged from the timer arbor. Upon de-energization, the shaded pole motor rotor will drop down and will be tie-clutched from the drive mechanism so as to eliminate any possibility of the inertia of the shaded pole motor continuing the drive past the desired point. When the rotor drops down, the switch 52 operated by the rotor is also restored to its normal condition. This, incidentally, serves to energize the main timer motor in to go through the selected cycle. It should be noted that the main timer motor and all timer circuits have been de-energized during the high speed indexing of the timer to the desired starting point.

Reference has been made to a seeking circuit. This includes the wiper or brush 86 carried on the backside of ratchet 8d and, hence, rotatable with the arbor at all times. This brush cooperates with the printed circuit appearing in the right portion of FIGURE 4 and including various circuit elements projecting into the paths of the brush to be contacted thereby. The brush in its rotation over the printed circuit is designed to seek a closed circuit. In other words, the desire is to bridge between brush part 88 and part 90. It will be appreciated that it is diflicult to follow the printed circuit laid out in this manner and, hence, reference will now be made to FIG- URE 10 which gives a simplified version of the seeking circuit as well as the mechanism described thus far.

In FIGURE 10, the printed circuit is shown in quite simplified form in the upper right hand portion with the wiper 86 indicated as being rotatable around the printed circuit board. In connection with this timer, various cycle selection switches are employed. These switches have been indicated as SA, SB, SC, SD, SE which, in turn, connect with the printed circuit elements A, B, C, D, and E. The selection switches are normally open and closure of one of these selection switches will establish circuit sought by the present system. The switches are so designed that actuation of any one of the switches will also momentarily close the switch M. Closure of the switch M will establish a circuit from line Ll through the switch M and the contacts of the normally closed relay R to the coil of the shaded pole motor 48 and back to the other side of the line L2 through lead 92. Immediately upon energization of the shaded pole motor, the rotor solenoid action will transfer the holding switch 52 to its other contact to shunt the momentary switch through lead 94 and maintain the circuit through the shaded pole motor winding. The high speed drive is now established and it will also be noted that the timer motor. and timer circuits have been de-energized. As the wiper passes around the printed circuit seeking a closed circuit, the searching switch SS will open on each revolution as above described. The searching switch normally acts when closed to shunt the printed circuit board but when open will permit the printed circuit board to test the circuit conditions on the board. If a closed circuit is found, current will flow through the coil 96 of relay R and break the relay contacts to thereby (lechergize the shaded pole motor. De-energization of the shaded pole motor will immediately cause holding switch 52 to transfer back to its original position and pass current to timer 1t and it will also break the current flow to the relay to permit it to go back to its normally closed condition.

As mentioned before, the searching switch SS may, if desired, be eliminated. The amount of current carried on the printed circuit board under the present circuit conditions is very small and in most cases is of no consequence and, hence, the switching can be done on the board without the necessity of shunting the board as is'done with a searching switch. The searching switch under some conditions is of value where other circuit conditions involving higher current loads are searched on the board. Under these conditions the wiper can be positioned in the test position prior to opening of the searching switch so that the current load is carried at a switch designed to switch such loads rather than-switching on the board.

While the present description has been devoted to a circuit which seeks a closed condition, it is also possible to seek an open circuit which also permits elimination of the relay. This is primarily a matter of choice and it is thought necessary to show here only one type of circuit. Reference may be made to co-pending application Ser. No. 799,780, now Patent No. 2,995,143, for a description of a seeking circuit which seeks an open circuit as distinct from a closed circuit.

Turning now to a consideration of FIGURES 11 and 12, it will be noted that FIGURE 11 illustrates schematically the operation described with respect to FIGURE but omits the more or less operational characteristics of FIGURE 10. The seeking circuit here is slightly more complicated but with an understanding of the circuit shown in FIGURE 10, this circuit will be readily understood. Frorn line L1, there is a lead 98 leading to the momentary switch M which is closed when the cycle selection switches are closed but is closed only momentarily. The momentary switch is shunted by the holding switch 52 which will take over after the shaded pole motor 48 has been energized. Switch ltltl will be open if no fabric switch (as appearing in FIGURE 12) is actuated and will be closed upon actuation of a fabric push switch. These switches are shown as F, G, H, and I in FIGURES 11 and 12. Switch 162 is normally open and is closed upon actuation of one of the operation Switches J, K, L, N and 0. It will be appreciated upon inspection of FIGURE 11, that, in order to establish a closed circuit for the brush -86 to seek it will be necessary to close both a fabric button and an operation button and upon actuation of the two, it will establish the proper starting point. For example, if button F is actuated and the operation switch I is also actuated, the brush will stop at interval numbered 1. On the other hand, if switch G has been actuated instead of F, the brush will stop at interval 2. Thus, it will be seen that the fabric switches and the operation switches are utilized in combination to feed in the information whereupon the system will establish the proper cycle to accommodate the conditions supplied.

When the brush finds the closed circuit, the relay R is energized to open the normally closed contacts and break the circuit through the shaded pole motor which, in turn, will open the holding switch 52 shunting the momentary switch M and will allow the holding switch in L1 to go back to its normally closed position whereupon the timer will go into operation. The holding switch in line L1 being opened during operation of the high speed drive will result in all circuits controlled by the timer cams being tie-energized and, hence, there is no wear and tear on the components during the period the timer is being driven to its starting point. If the timer circuits were not deenergized, the apparatus controlled by the timer circuits would, of course, rapidly go through various functions and this would greatly add to the wear and tear on the components with a subsequent shortening of the useful life of the components. Hence, it is considered quite desirable to de-energize the entire timer during the high speed drive. Provision is made, of course, for re-establishing the power supply to the timer after the timer has been stopped at a predetermined interval which is the start of a cycle.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A timer comprising cam means movable over a predetermined path, control switches operated by the cam means, means for advancing the cam means at timing speed to effect sequential operation of the switches over a portion of said path, said switches being operated during high speed advance or the cam means, and means operative during the high speed advance to de-energize the control switches.

2. In a timer, timing means movable over a prescribed path, a switch element movable with the timing means, a fixed switch element cooperable with the first element to determine a circuit condition, motor means for advancing the timing means over said prescribed path in a step-by-step manner and in circuit with said elements whereby the motor means is energized through said elements, and switch means operated as a result of operation of the motor means to shunt said elements during each step of the advance of the timing means whereby the circuit continuity to the motor through said elements is not determined until the step has been completed.

3. A sequence timer, a plurality of control switches, switch operating means movable over a prescribed path for effecting various sequences of operation of the control switches, means for indicating the position of the switch operating means with respect to said path, a plurality of position selection switches operably connected with said indicating means and normally establishing a circuit condition, actuation of any of the position selection switches being operative to indicate which of the various sequences is desired and to establish an abnormal circuit condition, an electric motor having an axially movable rotor and operable to advance the switch operating means at high speed, a switch momentarily operable to energize the motor, and a holding switch operated as a result of axial movement of the rotor upon energization of the motor, said holding switch being in circuit with the position selection switches.

4. A sequence timer, a plurality of control switches, switch operating means movable over a prescribed path for effecting various sequences of operation of the coutrol switches, a motor operable to advance the switch operating means, electrical means for indicating the position of the switch operating means with respect to said path, a plurality of position selection switches operably connected in circuit with said indicating means, actuation of any of the position selection switches being operative to determine which of the various sequences will be obtained and to establish in cooperation with said indicating means a circuit condition affecting operation of the motor, and a momentary switch for initiating operation of the motor.

5. A sequence timer, a plurality of control switches, switch operating means movable over a prescribed path for efiecting various sequences of operation of the control switches, an electric motor having an axially movable rotor and operable to advance the switch operating means, electrical means for indicating the position of the switch operating means with respect to said path, a plurality of position selection switches operably con nested in circuit with said indicating means, actuation of any of the position selection switches being operative to determine which of the various sequences will be obtained and to establish in cooperation with said indicating means a circuit condition affecting operation of the electric motor, a momentary switch for initiating operation of the motor, and a holding switch operated as a result of axial movement of the rotor upon energization of the motor and being in circuit with the position selection switches and the indicating means to maintain energization of the motor until the circuit condition established by actuation of a position selection switch is obtained.

6. A sequence timer comprising, a plurality of control switches, switch operating means having a number of starting points, means for selecting a desired starting point, a first motor for driving the switch operating means at a timing speed, a second motor operable to drive the switch operating means at high speed to the desired starting point, means for energizing the second fl motor, and means preventing energization of the first motor during operation of the second motor.

7. A sequence timer according to claim 6 in which the second motor includes a rotor having a solenoid action when the motor is energized and the preventing means is operated by the said rotor.

8. A sequence timer according to claim 7 in which the preventing means is a switch in circuit with the first motor.

9. A sequence timer according to claim 8 including clutch means between the second motor and the switch operating means, said clutch means being operated by the solenoid action of the rotor.

10. A sequence timer according to claim 6 including circuits controlled by the switches, said circuits being de-energized by said preventing means during operation of the second motor.

11. A sequence timer according to claim 6 wherein said selecting means includes first circuit elements moving with the switch operating means, second circuit elements fixed against movement and cooperating with the first circuit elements to indicate the position of the switch operating means, a plurality of position selection switches in circuit with the first and second circuit elements and normally establishing a circuit condition, actuation of the position selection switches being operative to establish an abnormal circuit condition indicative of the desired position, and means responsive to the abnormal condition being reached to de-energize the second motor.

12. A sequence timer according to claim 11 in which the second motor is a shaded pole motor the rotor of which has a solenoid action, said preventing means being a switch operated by the rotor and in the line to the first motor and the circuits controlled by the timer switches.

13. A sequence timer according to claim 12 including a searching switch in parallel with and normally shunting said first and second circuit elements and the selection switches, and means driven by the second motor for periodically opening the searching switch.

14. A sequence timer including a plurality of control switches, cam means for operating the switches, a first motor for driving the cam means at timing speed, a second motor including a rotor having a solenoid action, clutch means operated by the rotor for engaging the second motor and the cam means so the second motor can drive the cam means at high speed, a switch operated by the rotor to de-energize the control switches during operation of the second motor.

15. A timer according to claim 14 in which the cam means has a rotary motion and is carried in a frame, a wiper brush rotating with the cam means, circuit elements carried by the frame to be contacted by the wiper, selection switches in circuit with the circuit elements, said switches cooperating with the circuit elements to establish a circuit condition said second motor being de-energized when the wiper senses the circuit condition.

16. A timer according to claim 15 in which the cam means is driven step-by-step by 'both motors, and search switch means operative to shunt said circuit elements during each step and to open the shunt after each step.

17. A timer according to claim 16 in which the search switch is operated by a cam driven by the second motor.

18. A timer comprising sequence control means, control circuits operated by the sequence means, means for advancing the sequence means at timing speed, means for advancing the sequence means at high speed and means operative during the high speed advance to dc-energize the control circuits.

19. A sequence timer having a plurality of starting points, slow speed drive means for the timer means for selecting one of said starting points, high speed drive means for the timer, and means responsive to energizetion of the high speed drive means to de-energize the circuits controlled by the timer.

20. A timer according to claim 19 including means responsive to positioning the timer at a pre-determined starting point for de'energizing the high speed timer.

21. A timer according to claim 20 including means responsive to de-energization of the high speed means to energize the slow speed drive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,740 Foote Aug. 8, 1933 2,391,718 Lindemann Dec. 25, 1945 2,421,481 Collins June 3, 1947 2,608,252 Candor Aug. 26, 1952 2,805,331 Wofiord Sept. 3, 1957 2,863,996 Hill et al. Dec. 9, 1958 2,898,993 Huff Aug. 11, 1959 3,011,079 Mellinger Nov. 28, 1961 Disclaimer 3,033,999.James M. Thombery, Morton Grove, and Dale F. Wz'ZZcom, Aurora, Ill. TIMER AND TIMER POSITIONING MEANS. Patent dated May 8, 1962. Disclaimer filed Feb. 24, 1969, by the assignee, Controls Company of America. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 18 through 21 of said patent.

[Ofiicz'al Gazette May 27, 1.969.] 

